As the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes, psychology usually focuses on the individual. However, each individual is influenced by a host of sources, one of which is his or her heritage. We’re unique, and yet we’re a composite of nature and nurture, heritage and environment.
Last week I had the opportunity to spend a few days in New York City, and I was more impressed than ever with the diversity of people living in America. In fact, while on the ferry to Liberty Island, I felt a bit like a minority since no one around me was speaking English. While on Ellis Island, I snapped the above photograph of an exhibit in the museum. These images represent snapshots of America’s citizens, and I found myself wondering, “Where am I? Who am I like? Where did I come from?” While I’m different from millions of others, I’m just like them in many ways too.
Take a few seconds to study the above snapshots and ponder the differences and similarities between people. Can you spot someone like you? Are there those who are totally different? In what way? Are those with different noses and eye color like you in some way? I’m hoping that looking at the picture gives more meaning to the following quote and that you’ll respond to at least one line of it:
Every person is like every other person.
Every person is like some other person.
Every person is like no other person.
We're psychology instructors (Jayne, Mark, Myles, Katie-in order of our being hired) at a community/technical college who are energized and excited by psychology and its applications to daily life. After all, what's the point of knowing about synapses unless the knowledge improves your understanding of moods, disorders, and memory (to name a few).
We've found that just about everything relates in some form or fashion to the science of human behavior, and it's our goal to help others to see that. Accordingly, we'll be posting opinions, comments, and questions and hoping that you'll respond. We'll also provide links to relevant articles and websites to further increase your knowledge
10 responses so far ↓
Nicole Jones // September 21, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I especially like your comment about how people judge someone before they get to know them. In human behavior we do things that are sometimes questionable. At the same time it is unique how diferent we all are. I guess it is in a odd way normal how we aproach certain things because I’m guilty in that aspect too. I don’t believe we do this on purpose. Sometimes its just our instincts.
I don't know about the instincts part (some psychologists don't believe that humans have them), but I blame a lot of my shortcomings on being human.Diane Giddings // September 9, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I am all about loosing your mind! In fact when people say I think you have lost your mind I say I know I have. (ha ha). We over think in almost everything we do. I mean a simple task such as picking a movie. It takes me a good 30 minutes to pick out one movie at Block Buster. Whats up with that. I could already be home watching a movie in that time. Good thought!
Great attitude.Tricia Williams // June 1, 2009 at 5:39 pm
You asked if I could think of a “specific situation or person”. I can think of many. My military travels took me all over the world. I don’t think there’s anybody who I would expect to have less in common with than Iraqi Muslem subcontractor, Turkish Engineer. a Polish, contractor, A Tibetan medical student, a Indian electritian, a Philippeano cook, …the list goes on and on. These and many more are all people that I have spent many long days with, shared dinners with, shared experiences and talked about our differences with. We found that we had a LOT in common but it was our differences that interested us the most. It became a favorite topic to pass time. I learned many things. I learned how to make curries from the Philippeano. I also learned some new swimming strokes, how to play the guitar, and how to get an effective ab workout. I picked up some family values from the Polish man. I was encouraged to stick to my goals by the Tibetan medical student, who traveled far from home to a warzone to work as a garbageman 7 days a week, 12 hours a day so that he could make a little money to support his family and save for another year of medical school. Whew.. I have learned a lot! Here at home, I like to befriend those of all races and cultures. I have a Dominican friend who has taught me not to be so materialistic. D. R. is a poor country.. I have a friend from South Africa who teaches me about hard work to achieve goals as well. As a young man, he left his small villiage, came by himself to America attained his citizenship by joining the military. Then used the education benefits to go to college so that he can go back to Africa and serve his community.
There is so much else I have learned but it’s time for class.
I love this! It's so refreshing to come across someone with such an open mind and a wealth of experience with others who are "different."Lisa Marie Mitchell // May 27, 2009 at 4:40 pm
When I read this question it made me feel exactly what I am going through in my life right now. I am a single mother with three kids and I am trying to raise my children in the environment that they are growing up in today. We have a new president, the schools were desegregated many years ago, we have a lot of immigrants coming into our country, and there are many people who don’t even know exactly what race they are anymore. I think this vast array of cultures and new ages has made everyone look at theirself to say “Who am I?”.
Every person is like every other person seems to be too vague because the only thing we really share is the fact that we all have to have air and water to survive. We may be like some other person in a lot of ways because you can always have the same hair color, skin color, religious beliefs, job preference, etc. as some one else. Therefore I am sure everyone is like some other person in some kind of way. However, I mostly believe that every person is like no other person the most. Everyone has been raised in many different cultures and beliefs. You may have been born and raised in the same community but you are unique in the noticeable features you have, not to mention social beliefs. We have had very different life experiences that make us all so different from the person behind us in line at the grocery store or doctor’s office. I believe that you have to look into someone and see what has happened in their own personal life to see what has made them who they are today. Looking at the outside is just like it was said before ” a first impression” and that in itself can only tell you what kind of clothes a person likes or if they may be having a bad day on that particuar day. To really know someone you have to see them for what their whole entire makeup is all about including any mental or health problems. Someone told me five years ago a saying I try to live by everyday; Accept people for who THEY are or YOU will never be happy in life!
What a lot of insight this post displays. It is indeed a different world to raise children in than the one in which you were raised, and with your open minded attitude, your children can't help but adopt that feeling of acceptance too.Mary Lee Beatson // May 24, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I believe that all three of these statements intertwine with each other. Every one of us is an individual with diffrent feelings about our unique experiances and circumstances growing up and currently. But then that exact acount shows one of the many ways that we are similar, we do all have feelings. Then we start looking at our family and how ‘Aunt Jane’ had the exact same feelings about college that you find within yourself, and so you have similarities with another person; is this not one basis on how we choose our friends? When we look into the similarities and diffrences between our fellow members of the human condition we can find at least a little touch of both in all of us.
There are several theories of friendship selection and maintenance, but the most popular seems to be the "birds of a feather flock together" one. We evidently feel more comfortable around people who are similar to us in some way and tend to gravitate towards them.Sheri Hannibal // May 22, 2009 at 4:40 pm
I belive being different is what makes us unique!
Sheri Hannibal // May 22, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I beleive every person is the same in some ways, I strongly belive that we had our own ways that shine throught to show who we are as a person. Being ous selfes is what stick out the most. Most people notice the different things about a person before the things they have in commmon.
Good point. And yet I wonder why this is true (that we notice our differences first).Mary Lee Beatson // May 22, 2009 at 4:23 pm
Every person is like no other person.
How true I find this statement to be. We each walk along our developmental paths, the entirity of which is filled with the criss-crossing paths of others including loved ones and strangers. The crossing leaves an impression on each of us, and yet that impression could well be completly diffrent from the one aquired by the crossing of one with someone else. As we are all diffrent, so too are the combinations of us into one unit diffrent, for example, the people of our class; each bringing a unique peice of history and temperment into the combination. I greatly believe that our diffrences add a degree of understanding towards one another that helps to contribute a positive feeling towards each other; which, oddly enough, adds to our similarities.
Wow! This is all so true. The funny thing (one of them anyway) about a semester is that it's so short, and yet when it ends, our paths have crossed with quite a variety of different people, all of whom have the potential to affect us.Tricia Williams // May 21, 2009 at 7:34 pm
I agree with Henry that we focus too much on catagorizing people. Getting to know people who are very different from myself has enriched my life and given me a wider perspective.
Mine too. Can you think of a specific situation or person?Henry Page // May 20, 2009 at 9:03 pm
i think we are all alike in more ways than we want to admit. I hate to stereotype people but i know that i am just as guilty as the next when it comes to trying to categorize someone based on a first impression. Just think about it we spend more time trying to point out how we are different than we are alike. Most of us meet someone for the first time and right off the bat we start trying to figure what “group” this person fits into based off of clothes, maybe hair style or even what kind of music we might assume someone to listen to. whats funny about this is that while you are trying to figure out how you are different, they are most likely doing the same thing, so it makes us alike at the most basic level of behavior. Dont get me wrong there is nothing wrong with trying to figure someone out but the problem is when we make assumptions its always the negative aspects that might be associated with a group that you are placing this person in that pops up first. when that happens we end up closing ourselves off, and could be missing out on some cool experiences.
You made some great points in this post. I especially like the idea that while you're judging (or trying to figure out) another person, he or she is probably doing the same thing about you! I agree with you that this isn't "all bad" because after all we need a starting point for getting to know someone. At the same time, if we're too judgmental, we run the risk of losing out on some really "cool experiences."